by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports

Southern California quarterback Matt Barkley will not play in Monday's Sun Bowl against Georgia Tech due to a shoulder injury, USC coach Lane Kiffin announced Thursday. Barkley injured his shoulder during a 38-28 loss to UCLA on Nov. 17 and didn't play in the Trojans' regular-season finale against Notre Dame on Nov. 24.

Kiffin said Barkley was not cleared by the team's medical staff to return to the field in a game situation.

"Doctors haven't cleared me to play, so I won't be suiting up on Saturday," Barkley said on his Twitter account. "I'll be here with my team to finish strong. Proud to be a Trojan!"

As during the game against Notre Dame, Kiffin and USC will turn to redshirt freshman Max Wittek at quarterback. Wittek completed 14 of 23 attempts for 186 yards with a pair of interceptions during the 22-13 loss to the Fighting Irish.

Had Barkley opted to forego his final year of eligibility and leave after last season, his final game would have been a 50-0 victory against the rival Bruins. After opting to return for his senior season, Barkley's college career ended in a 10-point loss, with a sprained shoulder after a blind-side sack by UCLA linebacker Anthony Barr.

Returning for his senior year also might have cost Barkley a high spot in the NFL draft. According to most analysts, Barkley would have been the third quarterback off the board in last year's draft, behind Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III.

Barkley entered this season as a preseason All-American and a Heisman Trophy candidate â?? and USC entered the year ranked No. 1. While Barkley's season was statistically strong, he received ample criticism for the way the Trojans crumbled under massive expectations. USC became the first team since Mississippi in 1964 to be ranked No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press poll and go on to lose five games.

Despite missing one game, however, Barkley led the Pac-12 Conference in touchdowns (36) and yards per attempt (8.5), and set a conference record for career touchdown passes (116). In all, he holds 20 USC career, season and single-game records.